Consumers cut spending as the economy weakened and after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on Aug.2raised the specter of war, inflating prices of gasoline and heating oil.

• 由于经济疲软，同时在伊拉克八月入侵科威特引发了战争的威胁，因而汽油及取暖燃油涨价以后，消费者乃减少开支。